Lehigh University president outlines strategic vision for Upper Saucon Township land

Lehigh University has no immediate plans for land donated to the school last year, but President Alice Gast tonight explained how the Upper Saucon Township properties fit into the college's long-term strategic vision.

Speaking at a township supervisors meeting, Gast said three categories have been assigned to the land: mission-critical, transitional and nonmission-critical.

"We really are looking at this as a long-term asset," she said of the land, which was a gift from the Donald B. and Dorothy Stabler Foundation. "Although we are also very cognizant of opportunities that may arise in the near time, especially for the nonmission-focused properties. ... As opportunities arise in the near time, we will certainly consider them and seize them."

A group of properties closest to Lehigh's existing campuses has been labeled mission-critical, she said.

"These parcels ... would make the most sense for future academic use," Gast said. "We're not crying out for space or new land so there's nothing urgent on the horizon on the academic use side."

An expansion in Upper Saucon would make Lehigh the municipality's third college. DeSales University and Penn State Lehigh Valley also are located in the township.

The Upper Saucon land is roughly three miles from Lehigh's main campus in Bethlehem and one mile from its Goodman Campus. The university owns about 1,600 acres combined on Bethlehem's South Side and Lower Saucon; the Upper Saucon property acquisition grew the college's land holdings by nearly 50 percent and made it the township's largest landowner, officials have said.

A group of properties farthest from Lehigh's campuses and near Route 309 has been labeled nonmission-critical, she said.

"Some of those parcels are interspersed with other developments and an industrial park...they lend themselves to looking at the best possible use for the community and for the university in the long term, but not so focused on our long-term academic mission," Gast said.

A group of properties between the mission-critical and nonmission-critical parcels has been labeled transitional, she said. Lehigh will likely retain ownership of those properties, but the university is not looking at them for any specific use, the president said.

Officials have said the land, about 755 acres, comprises 20 separate properties, the largest of which surrounds The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley and is roughly bordered by Interstate 78 and Routes 309 and 378.